Push-button electric switch.



PATENTBD JULY 7, 190 3, G. G. PERKINS. PUSH BUTTON ELEGTRIG SWITCH- APPLICATION FILED J'AN. 19, 1903.

s sumssum 1.

N0 MODEL? (fig z Ill ff 8 SHEETS-31133332.

No. 732,890. PATENTED JULY 7, 1903.

a; G. PERKINS. PUSH BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITGH. 1 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1803. N0 MODEL.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1903..

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

G. G. PERKINS. PUSH BUTT ON ELECTRIC SWITG APPLIOATiON FILED JAN. 19, 1903.

H0 MODEL time) 1"0 all whom it may concern.-

STA ES Patented July 7, lees.

l g I CHARLES PERKINS, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

"PUSH-BUTTON ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPEGIFICA'IIOlV forming part of Letterslatent No.732,890, dated July 7, 1903.

Application filed January 19, 1903. Serial No. 139,530. (No model.) i

' Le it known that I, CHARLES G. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and Stateofi Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Push-Button Elec tiic Switches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to an electric switch which haspoles that are oscillated by a'spring which is made tense bythe reciprocation of push-buttons. r

The ohject of this invention is to provide a simple, safe, and durable mechanism which will operate easily, smoothly, and quickly.

In the embodiment of the invention that is illustrated the oscillating pole pieces are borne by a spindle, loose on which is the escapement-plate to which the pole-pieces are connected andthe spring-plate to which the push-buttons are connected. Each of these plates has a lug that extends 'betweenthe ends of the operating-spring, which is coiled about the spindle. An oscillating escape ment is mounted on the supporting-armin j such position that the inward thrustof a push-button causes the end of the escape-' mnt adjacent to that push-button to engage with a tooth on the escape-plate, in which ongagement that end of the eseapement remains until an inward movement of the other push-button has placed the spring under tension and pushed the other end of the escapement inward, so as to engage with the other tooth on the escape-plate.

Figure lot the accompanying drawings shows a side view of one of these switches with a side of the receptacle cut away so as to expose the mechanism, the parts being in the positions occupied when the poletpieces are engaged with the contacts and the circuit is closed. Fig. 2 shows, on larger scale, the push-buttons, the spring-plate to'which they are connected, the escape-plate to which the pole-pieces are connected, and the oscillating esoapement in the same relative positions as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the same parts with'the push-buttons in the positions occupied just before the escapement is released, so as toallow the poles to be thrown for opening the circuit. Fig. 4 shows the same parts in the positions occupied after the escapemen-t has been oscillated, so that the polesmay be oscillated for opening the circuit. Fig. 5 shows an edge view of these parts. Fig. 6 shows a transverse section taken through the frame-plate on the plane of the spindle, showing the manner of supporting the poles on the spindle and connecting them with each other and also with the escape-plate. -Fig. 7 shows a f'aceview ot-the frame-plate and the escapernent, and Fig. 8 is a view of the back side of the escapement and its spring.

The receptacle 1 for this switch may be made ofporcelain or any other suitable material in any desired shape. The contacts 2 are mounted in the receptacle in the usual way and provided with ordinary bindingscrews for the attachment of the circuit-wires. The spindle 3 is loosely held by the frameplate 4, which is attached to the supporting-plate 5, that is fastened in any suitable manner across the open'end of the receptacle. The pole-pieces 6, that are properly insulated by the washers 18, are mounted on the ends of the spindle and held in place by,the split washers 19. The spring-plate 7 is loosely mounted on the spindle, and to the opposite ends of this plate the fingers 8 of the push-buttons 9 are pivoted. Loosely mounted on the spindle is the escape-plate 10. This plate is connected with one pole-piece by the lug 11 and with the other pole-piece by the lug 20, so that its oscillation causes the oscillation of .the pole-pieces. The log 11 extends from the plate l0 toward the plate (I, and'th'e plate 7 has a lug'lZ, that extends toward the plate 10. A spring 13 is coiled about the spindle in such manner that its ends press against opposite edges of both of these lugs. On the edge of the plate 10 are two teeth 14, that face each other, and pivotallymonnted upon the frame-plate, so that its ends will engage these teeth, is the escapement 15. A spring 16 lies in a groove 21 in the back of the esc'apement.

When one of the push-buttons is thrust inwardly, a pin 17, projecting from its finger,

engages one end of the escapement-spring v spring and places the spring under tension vfor the reason that the other end of the spring is held by the lug projecting from the escapeplate, which is held froinmovement by the escapement until 'hfter the spring has been put under considerabletension. Then the pin projecting from the finger of the pushbutton thatis being pushed inwardly engages the outer end of the escapement and oscillates it in such manner as to withdraw the end that is engaged with the tooth on the escape-plate,-all0win g the escape-plate to which the poles are attached to be thrown by the spring. This oscillation of the escapement, which withdraws one end from engagement withone of the teeth, throws the other end into engagement with the other tooth, so, that when the push-button thatis nowout is thrust inwardlythe escapement will hold the escape plate untiltheinward movement of the pushbutton causes adisengagement.

\ 3 With this mechanism until just before the escapement is oscillated to cause a disengage:

' ment the push-buttons have only to place the spring iinder'tension, and then they easily cause a (lisengagment by reason of the fact that they engage with the escapement at some distance from its pivot.

The disengagement of the escapement from the escape-plate is caused positively, as is also the engagement;

.but in order to insure a smooth movement the engagement is first eilect'ed by the elasticily of the small spring connected with the escapement, which is engaged by the pins projecting from the push-button arms when the push-buttons are thrust in.

All of the parts of this mechanism are simple to make and easy to assemble. 'lhe operalion is smooth and easy, forthere are no cams. All the movements are positive, and yet they are quick, lor the operating-spring throws parts which are perfectly free when,

the escapement is released.

. I claim as my invention-- 1. An electric switch havinga Nameplate,

a spindle mounted on the frame-plate, oscillatoty poles mounted upon the spindle, an

escape-Plate having two tecth that face each other on its edge, mounted upon the spindle and connected with the poles, an oscillatory escapement mounted on the frame-plate between thespindle and the'push-buttons and having its ends adapted to engage the teeth on the escape-plate, a spring-plate mounted upon the spindle, a spring coiled about the spindle and adapted to be placed under tension by the oscillation of the spring-plate, and

push-buttons adapted to first oscillate the spring-plate and then oscillate the escapeinent, substantially as specified.

2. An electric switch having a f rams-plate, a spindle mounted-on the frame-plate, oscillatory poles, mounted upon the spindle, an escapement-plate having two teeth that face eachother on its edgeymounted upon the spindle and connectedwith the poles, an 0s cillatory-escapement mounted on the frameed upon and movable with the escapement, a spring-platemounted upon the spindle, a spring coiled about the spindle and adapted to be. placed under tension by the oscillation of the spring-plate, and push-buttons adapted to first oscillate the spring-plate and then oscillate the escapement, substantially as specified.

3. An electric switch having a frame-plate, a spindle mountedon the frame-plate, oscillatory poles mounted upon .the spindle, an

escape-plate having two tecththat face each other on its outer edge, mounted on the spinlate the escapement, substantially as sp'ecifled.

CHARLES G. PERKINS. \ViLn-esse's':

E'rHEL M. Lown,

HARRY R. \VlLLIAlllri.

plate and'having its ends adapted to engage the teeth on the escape-plate, a spring mount- 

